Braised Veal Shanks With White Bean And Tomato Sauce

Ingredients

2 cloves garlic, (this was optional for The Hanson's as they disliked Garlic)

2 fresh Bay Leaves

5 sprigs fresh parsley plus more for garnish

lemon zest cut into 2 inch strips

1 15oz can white beans rinsed and drained

1 28oz can Plum Tomatoes, drained and chopped

1 cup dry white wine

2 cups chicken broth/stock

1/4 cup finely chopped parsley

1 tbs freshly grated lemon zest

How to make it

In a pan heat 2 tablespoons of the oil and the butter over moderately high heat until the foam subsides, in the fat brown the veal shanks, and transfer them to a plate.

Pour off the fat from the kettle, add the remaining 3 tablespoons oil, and in it cook the onion, the carrot, the celery, the garlic, the bay leaves, and salt and pepper to taste over moderate heat, stirring, until the vegetables are softened.

Return the shanks to the kettle, add the thyme, 5 of the parsley sprigs, the zest, the beans, the tomatoes, the wine, and the broth, and bring the liquid to a boil.

Braise the mixture, covered, in the middle of a preheated 350°F. oven, basting the shanks every 30 minutes, for 2 hours, transfer the shanks with a slotted spoon to a plate, and keep them warm, covered.

Discard the thyme sprigs and the bay leaves and in a blender or food processor puree the vegetable mixture in batches. (For a chunky sauce,

purée half the vegetable mixture and stir the purée into the remaining vegetable mixture.)

Serve the veal shanks topped with the sauce and sprinkled with the gremolata. Garnish each serving with an additional parsley sprig.